Diversity & inclusion are important topics for all organisations. Staff training is a crucial step on the road to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and able to contribute to the success of an organisation on a fair and level platform.
With this exciting new board game activity, participants explore the issues that come up as they move around the board. See below for how to use in face-to-face or virtual classrooms.
If using in face-to-face classrooms, the benefits of a board game setting bring the topic to life, make it more intriguing and more fun. This helps with the learning and removes some of the ‘heaviness’ of the topic. It’s not about preaching; it’s about exploring values. A great antidote to the oft-used lecturing or group discussion on the topic!
In the activity, the board represents a typical office layout, and each player visits a different department to find about a diversity issue. On the way they pick up On the spot! cards. Some of the cards contain statistics. With four options there is a broad range of opinions, and the group must reach consensus. Other cards are True/false – guaranteed to stimulate discussion. And a spare few (blank) cards are included in case you wish to add some of your own discussion topics.
When a player enters their department they 'meet' a member of staff who will raise a key issue. This is supplied on a Real Cases card. Together the players discuss the case and decide on their response: what is being highlighted, how should it best be dealt with? There is one Real Cases card for each department but if you want more cards, there is a set of six You Decide! cards to use in a similar way, while players are in their departments. These again outline real cases but this time players choose a response from a choice of explanations. Specific issues include, for example, LGBTQ+, sexism or sexual harassment in the workplace. Also highlighted are stereotyping, ‘banter’, ageism, disability issues and racism.
On their next turn, the player leaves the room and heads back to their start point, encountering more On the spot! cards on the way.
If using in virtual classrooms, the cards are supplied digitally as well, for teams to work through in virtual breakout rooms.
When time is up the cards are discussed at the debrief, ideas are shared and correct responses, where applicable, are revealed. During this process, the key learning points are extracted. The Trainer's Notes contain a commentary for each card and there is an optional, debrief PowerPoint.
The aim is for participants to not only think about their own values and beliefs but to hear alternative views and to reach agreement on potential solutions. It’s a lot about mutual respect, emotional intelligence and simply ‘being nice’. By the end of the activity teams have a much better understanding about diversity and inclusion, the issues facing modern organisations and the positive values that help improve workplace relations.
